Parents' Guide to

Don't Think Twice

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Poignant, profound dramedy deals with mature themes.

Movie R 2016 90 minutes
Don't Think Twice Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

John K.
John K. Parent of 11 and 14-year-old
January 6, 2019
age 14+

I watched it with my 11 & 14 year old (mature) girls and am glad we did

My 11-year-old thought that the movie was rated R because one of the characters is shown habitually smoking a bowl. My 14-year-old thought that the movie might not be for teenagers because it "depicted the harsh realities of life and how peoples hopes and dreams are often crushed". She rated it a 7.5/10 and said that it was a good movie. What made me uncomfortable was the regular overtones of sex. One couple was shown in bed on a regular basis. All that was shown was kissing but the implication was that sex happened. Another character had the reputation of having casual sex—again, none was actually shown. This movie is real life, as only Ira Glass and Mike Birbiglia can tell it (even though I'm mad at Ira for being so political lately).
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What's the Story?

In NEVER THINK TWICE, the Commune -- an improv troupe in New York City -- comprises longtime friends Miles (Mike Birbiglia), Jack (Keegan-Michael Key), Samantha (Gillian Jacobs), Lindsay (Tami Saghar), Bill (Chris Gethard), and Allison (Kate Micucci). They follow three basic tenets: "Say yes"; "It's all about the group"; and "Don't think." These are the foundations of good improv -- and perhaps, too, of lasting friendship. But there's a fourth tenet underlying things: Watch your envy. When two of the group members are called in to audition for a TV sketch comedy show and one of them is accepted, the entire group is thrown off balance, wondering what will happen to each of them individually and to The Commune as a whole. Most importantly, what will happen to their friendship? (And in the case of one couple, their relationship.)

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Written and directed by Birbiglia, who also stars, this dramedy doesn't go for easy laughs -- or for obvious tears; instead, it presents humanity in all its confusing glory. What happens when the people we love become more successful than us? What happens when we don't want success? And what happens when love runs its course? It's challenging to distil the magic of an art form, especially one as ephemeral as improv. It's just as hard to capture the nuance in envy. But Don't Think Twice does so, in both cases, with obvious love, honesty, and empathy.

Sometimes the movie feels almost like an embarrassment of riches -- there are many storylines to follow, and some feel disappointingly truncated -- but for the most part, it's clearly informed by a keen knowledge of comedy and how hard it is to survive it -- and thrive from it -- in a world so full of disappointment. Don't think twice about seeing this: Say yes.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what Don't Think Twice is saying about the price that fame -- or failure -- exacts. Does that make it any less attractive?

  • The film depicts men and women in their twenties and thirties who are struggling with their careers. Do you think that's realistic? Is it relatable?

  • What keeps The Commune together: Is it loyalty? Professional courtesy? Pure love for what they do? What drives them apart?

  • What role do drinking and drugs play in the story? Are they glamorized? Why does that matter?

Movie Details

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